'Weird Al' Yankovic's parents found dead

FALLBROOK, Calif. — The elderly parents of Grammy-winning recording artist "Weird Al" Yankovic were found dead in their home, apparently victims of carbon-monoxide poisoning, officials said.

Nick and Mary Yankovic were found dead Friday in their San Diego County home by relatives who had not seen the couple recently, sheriff's Sgt. Conrad Grayson said.

Paramedics found Nick Yankovic, 86, in a chair in the living room. His 81-year-old wife was on the bathroom floor.

A wood fire had been set recently in the fireplace, Grayson said.

"The house was full of smoke when they opened the door," Grayson said, adding that family members found the flue closed.

Man playing with gun shoots himself fatally

HAZEL PARK, Mich. — A 20-year-old man playing with a handgun in a car fatally shot himself in the head and wounded a fellow passenger early yesterday, police said.

The man, identified as John Ronald Bell, was riding with four other people north of Detroit after leaving a party, Sgt. Herb Fluker said. He said Bell started playing with a handgun.

Fellow passengers told Bell to put the gun away, and he told them it wasn't loaded before placing the barrel against his head and pulling the trigger, Fluker said. The gun discharged, killing Bell and injuring a passenger.

Woman sent to prison for prostituting her child

PHOENIX — A woman who prostituted her 13-year-old daughter in exchange for crack has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to spend the rest of her life on probation.

JoAndrea Peeler, 37, was sentenced Friday under a plea agreement that forbids her to have contact with her daughter, unless the girl initiates the contact and her therapist approves.

Peeler avoided a potential 200-year sentence when she pleaded guilty in February to one count of child prostitution and two counts of attempted child prostitution.

Roller coaster cleared for reopening after death

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — A roller coaster that struck and killed a ride operator at Six Flags Magic Mountain will reopen tomorrow, the amusement park said yesterday.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators tested the SCREAM! coaster's braking system and the ride was cleared to reopen, said Sue Carpenter, a park spokeswoman.

The ride was closed Friday after the death of Bantita Rackchamroon, 21, who was struck during a test run while she performed a routine safety inspection.

St. George sets rules to cool spring-break fever

ST. GEORGE, Utah — Police are trying to soften the image of their city, ranked by MTV as America's third-best place to spend spring break in the early 1990s. It was eighth this year.

People younger than 21 can't rent hotel rooms without an adult. Eighteen-year-olds have a midnight curfew. Loitering and smoking under age 19 bring fines.

The precautions evolved after a weekend in 1994, when several boys established a gantlet and forced girls through it, groping them as they passed.

Also ...

One player who bought a ticket in Kensington, Md., won the $105 million grand prize from the Mega Millions lotto drawing Friday night, officials said yesterday. ... The National Security Agency is looking to hire 7,500 workers over the next five years in the spy agency's largest recruiting campaign since the 1980s.